Myanmar junta thanks Trump after recognition in tariff letter

Myanmar’s army chief lauded Donald Trump and requested him to carry sanctions, the junta stated Friday (July 11, 2025) after a tariff letter from the U.S. president believed to be Washington’s first public recognition of its rule.

Min Aung Hlaing endorsed Mr. Trump’s false declare that the 2020 U.S. election was stolen and thanked him for shutting down funding to U.S.-backed media offering unbiased protection of conflict-wracked Myanmar.

The army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected civilian authorities in 2021, plunging the nation into civil conflict.

The U.S. State Division sanctioned the junta chief and others for utilizing “violence and terror to oppress” Burmese individuals and “denying them the flexibility to freely select their very own leaders”.

U.S. diplomats don’t formally interact with the junta, however Mr. Trump despatched a letter to Min Aung Hlaing by identify on Monday (July 7, 2025) telling him the U.S. would impose a 40% tariff from August 1, down from a threatened 44%.

“It’s actually the primary public indication I’ve seen of U.S. acknowledgement of MAH and the junta,” stated Richard Horsey of the Worldwide Disaster Group.

Any earlier non-public communications “would nearly actually not have been from Mr. Trump, after all”, he advised AFP.

Min Aung Hlaing seized the chance to reply with a multi-page letter launched in each Burmese and English by the junta info crew Friday (July 11, 2025).

In it, he expressed his “honest appreciation” for Mr. Trump’s letter and praised the U.S. President’s “robust management in guiding your nation towards nationwide prosperity”.

He sought to justify the army’s seizure of energy, saying: “Much like the challenges you encountered through the 2020 election of america, Myanmar additionally skilled main electoral fraud and vital irregularities.”

Each Voice of America and Radio Free Asia – created by america with a mission to ship information in international locations with out free media – have shut down their Burmese-language operations because the Mr. Trump administration lower their funding.

Min Aung Hlaing stated he “sincerely appreciated” Mr. Trump’s transfer. The junta is more and more depending on its allies, China and Russia, for financial and army assist.

Min Aung Hlaing requested Mr. Trump to “rethink easing and lifting the financial sanctions imposed on Myanmar” and sought a tariff of 10-20%.

He thanked Mr. Trump for the “encouraging invitation to proceed taking part within the extraordinary Economic system of america, the Quantity One Market within the World”.

Mr. Trump’s punitive tariff letters have left many countries scrambling to safe last-minute offers with Washington earlier than they arrive into power subsequent month.